Want to learn to surf and ride some massive waves but not sure you will be able to pull it off? To be honest although learning to surf does require hard work and practice, if you follow the right path you can cut down the time it takes to get on your first wave.
In fact to make sure you get started on the right foot, here are 8 important tips that every beginner learning to surf should follow:
- Find the right beach
When you first start out you should look for a beach with waves that are steady and beginner-friendly. Smaller waves may not sound as fun, but they’ll make it much easier for you to pick up the basics.
- Get a teacher
Finding a good teacher is important if you want to learn how to surf. A good teacher can help you lay a solid foundation while at the same time keeping you safe. If you want you could check out surf lessons in Newquay or at other surfing beaches.
- Use a big soft-top board
Using a larger board will give you a larger surface to learn the basics – which is definitely easier than a small or short board. Similarly a soft-top can help too, and will make it less painful when you inevitably end up hitting the board by accident.
- Don’t rush into the water
It is understandable that you’ll be excited your first time out, but you shouldn’t rush into the water. Instead get into the habit of spending some time on land stretching, checking your surfing equipment, and observing the waves as well as other surfers.
- Practice sitting and paddling
A lot of your time surfing is going to be spent paddling out and sitting on your surfboard to wait for the right wave. That’s why you need to practice doing both and get used to it right from the start.
- Don’t be afraid of wiping out
Make no mistake, when you first start surfing you’re definitely going to wipe out – many times. It is important that you don’t fear wiping out and avoid getting frustrated or you won’t make much progress.
- Bend your knees not your back
One of the most common mistakes beginners make when riding waves is bending their backs – which is bad for balance. What you should do is bend your knees instead.
- Stay perpendicular to the whitewater when waves break
When a wave has broken you should keep yourself perpendicular to the whitewater. It is the best way to avoid being pulled under by the breaking wave and dragged towards the shore.
If you follow these tips you should find that learning surfing is a little bit easier. It will still require a lot of hard work and determination, but you should be able to pick it up more quickly and avoid a lot of the more common pitfalls that other beginners inevitably end up running into.
Most important of all though – remember to have fun!
